Thermodynamic Network Analysis of Biological Systems

This book is devoted to the question: What fundamental ideas and concepts can phys- ics contribute to the analysis of complex systems like those in biology and ecolo- gy? The book originated from two lectures which I gave during the winter term 1974/75 and the summer term 1976 at the Rheinisch-Westfalische Technische Hoch- schule in Aachen. The wish for a lecture with this kind of subject was brought forward by students of physics as well as by those from other disciplines like biology, physiology, and engineering sciences. The students of physics were look- ing for ways which might lead them from their monodisciplinary studies into the interdisciplinary field between physics and life sciences. The students from the other disciplines suspected that there might be helpful physical concepts and ideas for the analysis of complex systems they ought to become acquainted with. It is clear that a lecture or a book which tries to realize the expectations of both these groups will meet with difficulties arising from the different train- ings and background knowledge of physicists and nonphysicists. For the physicists, I have tried to give a brief description of the biological aspect and significance of a problem wherever it seems necessary and appropriate and as far as a physicist like me feels authorized to do so.